Professional Bowlers Association

Nice guys can finish first, although it took 15 years to relieve the "can't win" monkey off likable Pete McCordic's shoulders. Houston's McCordic finally collected his first PBA crown in the $125,000 Fresno Open, by stopping Rey Perez, Cincinnati, 258-230. Perez also was seeking his first PBA championship, but it was McCordic earning the $18,000 first prize as well as a berth in the 1989 Firestone Tournament of Champions.

Fifth-seeded Perez had built his momentum from the first match after qualifying through a fortuitous twist in the position round. Dave Husted, facing Randy Pedersen in the 42nd game, struck on his last shot to tie Pedersen and give the nod to Perez, who had led the tournament after the first four rounds.

McCordic opened the championship game with a strike, then thought, "Here we go again" after leaving the 4-6-7 split in his second frame, perhaps en route to his seventh PBA runnerup finish. Following his open, McCordic then spared and strung a nine-bagger, including three pressure strikes in the 10th frame to seal the victory.

Perez began with a tie against Berardi, Brooklyn, N.Y., and nursed a slim lead throughout to continue, 223-208. Next up was Sweden's Mats Karlsson, victor in the 1987 Greater Los Angeles Open when McCordic recorded a perfect game in the finals. Karlsson had claimed his two previous titles in California, but was thwarted a third as Perez out-struck him to advance, 219-192.

Walter Ray Williams Jr., Stockton, Calif., entered the fray in the semifinal match and led after nine frames, but a closing four-bagger by Perez pushed him past, 239-237. Williams was frustrated in making his fourth 1988 championship round appearance without a title.

CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND

PLAYOFF RESULTS - Perez defeated Berardi, 223-208; Perez defeated Karlsson, 219-192; Perez defeated Williams, 239-237; and in the championship game, McCordic defeated Perez, 258-230.

42-GAME TOTALS

		Name, City		Pins		Avg		WLT		+		Tot		Amt
1		Pete McCordic, Houston		9463		225.3		13-11-0		390		9853
2		Walter Ray Williams Jr., Stockton, Calif.		9358		222.8		14-10-0		420		9778
3		Mats Karlsson, Gothenburg, Sweden		9289		221.2		14-10-0		420		9709
4		Joe Berardi, Brooklyn, N.Y.		9298		221.4		12-12-0		360		9658
5		Rey Perez, Cincinnati, Ohio		9288		221.1		12-12-0		360		9648
6		Dave Husted, Milwaukie, Ore.		9176		218.5		15-8-1		465		9641		$4,000
7		Randy Pedersen, Santa Maria, Calif.		9187		218.7		14-8-2		450		9637		3,600
8		Hugh Miller, Everett, Wash.		9189		214.9		10-13-1		315		9609		3,300
9		Tom Crites, Tampa, Fla.		9284		221.0		9-15-0		270		9554		3,000
10		Henry Gonzalez, Colorado Springs, Colo.		9085		216.3		14-9-1		435		9520		2,800
11		Marc McDowell, Madison, Wis.		9106		216.8		13-11-0		390		9496		2,600
12		James Miller, Scottsdale, Ariz.		9170		218.3		10-13-1		315		9485		2,400
13		Leroy Bornhop, St. Charles, Mo.		9106		216.8		12-11-1		375		9481		2,200
14		Mike Edwards, Tulsa, Okla.		8989		214.0		12-12-0		360		9349		2,100
15		Don Genalo, Perrysburg, Ohio		8943		212.9		13-11-0		390		9333		2,000
16		David Ozio, Vidor, Texas		8909		212.1		14-10-0		420		9329		1,900
17		Gary Dickinson, Edmond, Okla.		8964		213.4		12-12-0		360		9324		1,800
18		Dave Arnold, Campbell, Calif.		8958		213.3		12-12-0		360		9318		1,700
19		Tom Baker, Buffalo, N.Y.		8955		213.2		11-13-0		330		9285		1,600
20		Dave Ferraro, Kingston, N.Y.		9057		215.6		7-17-0		210		9267		1,500
21		Ron Williams, Cahokia, III.		8907		212.1		9-15-0		270		9177		1,400
22		Philip Ringener, Big Spring, Texas		8848		210.7		10-14-0		300		9148		1,350
23		Ron Palombi Jr., Erie, Pa.		8860		211.0		9-15-0		270		9130		1,300
24		Chuck Mogavero, Sun Lakes, Ariz.		8675		206.5		10-14-0		300		8975		1,250

Pos.		Name, City/State	Amount
25		Dave Soutar, Leawood, Kan.	$1,050
*26		Jim Stamm, Reading, Pa.	1,135
27		Ernie Schlegel, Vancouver, U.S.A.	990
28		Jon O'Drobinak, Hammond, Ind.	970
29		Rudy Kasimakis, Long Island, N.Y.	960
30		Jim Tilton, Huntington Beach, Calif.	950
31		Tony Moore, Corbin, Ky.	940
32		George Branham III, San Diego, Calif.	930
33		Mike Taylor, Carlsbad, Calif.	920
34		Mark Baker, Garden Grove, Calif.	900
		Art Trask, Fresno, Calif.	900
		Pete Weber, Florissant, Mo.	900
37		Purvis Granger, Lafayette, La.	880
38		Guppy Troup, Edmond, Okla.	870
39		Bob Handley, Pompano Beach, Fla.	860
40		Ricky Corona, Diamond Bar, Calif.	850
41		Ron Bell, Akron, Ohio	835
		Jimmy Certain, Huntsville, Ala.	835
43		Mark Williams, Beaumont, Texas	815
		Steve Wunderlich, St. Louis	815
45		Tony Westlake, Edmond, Okla..	800
46		Norm Duke, Fort Worth, Texas	790
47		Parker Bohn Ill, Freehold, N.J.	775
		Sam Maccarone, Glassboro, N.J.	775
49		Michael Byers, Akron, Ohio	760
50		Mark Roth, Spring Lake Hts., N.J.	750
51		Jim Murtishaw, Vista, Calif.	740
52		Kent Wagner, Palmetto, Fla.	730
53		Scott Devers, Centerville, Ind.	720